Accessories

Designers & Artists

Spectra

At the foot of Mt. Nittany, two generations of Penn Staters grow a thriving woodworking business that began as a family hobby.

History

Nestled in a valley where the countryside meets Penn State campus, all six members of the Roeshot family got involved in the solid wood giftware business that began in their basement workshop in 1969. Even the youngest member of the family, Diana, helped out at gift shows, earning five cents for each cutting board she oiled. The business evolved into furniture-making and Diana and her husband Andy Friberg returned to State College, Pennsylvania to continue Spectra's long-term commitment to building beautiful, solid wood furniture.

Craftsmanship

Spectra's goal is to create furniture that will last, so they first look at designs with a customer's needs in mind and then fine-tune production to create a tailored process. Veteran craftsmen combine a handcrafted approach with the precision and consistency of automation, working in dedicated groups trained to build specific furniture collections. Spectra's pristine facilities are carefully thought out to support this approach—even wood deliveries are made only as needed from forests less than an hour away.

Committed to making a difference

Long-term relationships with local lumber suppliers make it possible for Spectra to use the best, sustainably harvested wood from nearby forests. Committed to getting the most of each piece of wood, Spectra reduces waste through automation and design. A computerized chop saw optimizes the amount of wood they can use from each piece of lumber. In pieces where it makes sense, Spectra uses a combination of solid wood and veneer to add stability while actually using less wood. And if there's anything left over, the remaining odds and ends go to locals for heating, retirees for arts and crafts and farmers for bedding.